Back on my FITNESS tip and EXCITED!

So last night (07/23/13) Me, myself and Leslie Sansone's Walk at home‬ 2 mile ‪‎Belly Blasting Walk WENT IN!!

** I couldn't wait to eat that ‎banana‬ ... If it ain't long IT'S WRONG!! HEHEHE **

I felt really good and had gotten really sweaty WHICH I LOVE!! ‎TEAM SWEAT‬ makes the ‪‎FAT CRY!! Getting back on my ‎fitness‬ tip after my 10+ day ‪‎WORK OUT‬ hiatus has shown me I NEED NOT TO GO THAT LONG EVER AGAIN!! ‪The plan last night was to get up early and hit the bridges‬ today dependant on the weather AND I DID!!

ONE thing I need for EVERYONE to know, when it comes to your ‎HEALTH‬ its really pretty simple ... YOU DO IT OR YOU DON'T! It being take care of your health. You only have 1 life to live, make it count and enjoyable!

Yep ... I was rained on so I'm wet and ‎sweaty but I was able to get across the ‎Main St‬ ‎bridge‬ to the ‪Friendship Fountain‬ where I was able to get in 30 ‎incline‬ ‎push-ups‬ and back across the bridge in 15 minutes! Yea, I'm good! I thought about putting in 2 miles with Leslie Leslie targeting the hips and thighs but decided to do that for my 2nd work out later this evening.

I'm so happy to be back on my ‎FITNESS‬ kick and I'm actually feeling rather ‎MANNISH but don't mind me. I've always had a relatively flat but wide butt BUT since I've been working out and getting up off of my flat, wide behind she has come out in a MAJOR way! I thank the FATHER up above for this! He has blessed me beyond measure and for this I'm ‪grateful, so grateful‬ for my ‎HEALTH, ‎LIFE‬ & ‪PROSPERITY. Wealth‬ isn't always monetary, remember that! Getting FIT for me is a must because I'm not trying to EVER ‪‎be FAT‬ AGAIN!

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‎40 AND FIT ...‬ ‎40 AND FABULOUS ... I'M BACK ON IT!! ‪EXERCISE‬ ‎EAT RIGHT‬ ‎GET FIT‬ ... ‎VI-LIFE‬

WORKOUT STRIKE OVER!

SO tonight I ended my 10+ day no work out streak! I wasn't on a strike, as I said in my last blog I just didn't have the drive. I was mentally drained and pulled elsewhere but I am back now and had almost forgotten how great it felt to work out! I'll be up at 6 tomorrow morning for a 15 minute work out as well! I have to get back in the scheme of things.

2 miles, 30 minutes with Leslie Sansone ... LOVE HER WORKOUTS! Easy yet effective, my kind of physical activity! If your fat doesn't cry than you've not worked hard enough!

Welp, that's it ... nothing major! TOOTLES ALL!!

NO MORE DIETS!!

Good evening on this Motivation Monday!! Today's tip: STOP DIETING! Eliminate that "D" word out of your vocabulary all together. If you simply EAT RIGHT, eat healthy, you will get the results you seek. Weight loss comes with a the introduction of a healthy lifestyle change and with the addition of some form of EXERCISE to GET FIT, that's the ONLY equation for a healthier you!

Get in to FITNESS! WORK OUT at least 3-4 times a week, 15-30 minutes and be consistent.

VI-LIFE Have a great day!

EAT RIGHT AND WATCH YOUR RESULTS

It hurts me to my heart to say I've not had the ‪‎drive to ‪‎WORK OUT‬ since the GZ verdict over a week ago. For those of you who don't already know, I am a ‎mother of an incarcerated son and believe it or not that‬ takes a lot out of you ‪‎mentally‬ and ‪‎emotionally‬.

This picture was on the 7th day of no real physical activity and the reason I'm sharing this is to show that although it's been more than a week without ‎EXERCISE‬ if you ‎EAT RIGHT your previously obtained‬ results won't be totally lost. What I did was resume my ‎Vi-Shakes‬ twice a day while eating as healthy as possible during this work out hiatus. The shakes and its contents have kept me right during this time and I've only gained 2 lbs. If I can maintain this with out my usual Leslie Sansone and bridge walking just wait until I get back on my ‎FITNESS‬ tip!!

A lot of this was brought on by my not having seen my son in quite a few months. The GZ verdict took me right back to that day in October when that judge sentenced my son to 66 months in a Florida State Prison for a car theft and VOP w/o a weapon. (see my blog Mother of An Incarcerated son for that full story) I was able to visit my son on yesterday and this week I'll be back on track!

MORAL OF THIS STORY: ‬ EAT RIGHT AND WATCH YOUR RESULTS!!

Its truly all in what you eat when changing to a healthy lifestyle. You can work out EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE but if what you put in your body isn't good for your body you are wasting your time! That's why I am so true to the ‎VI-LIFE! It assists with ‎leaning muscle, has allowed me to have my ‎abs out‬ when I want and most importantly provides my body with OPTIMAL NUTRITION with every serving! This 19 month ‎transformation is‬ still in progress but I am pleased with what I've done thus far! I am ‎a 40 PLUS AND FABULOUS‬ year old mother of 2 young adults and ‎nana of 2! I am proud of what I've done but its now time to get back at it!

So you tell me ...

YA GIRL IS NOW 43 AND FABULOUS

June 20th, the day my mother was blessed to bring her 1st born daughter into the world ... Chanel Velnette Vann is what she would be named and she is me! I remember when I was younger thinking anything above 20 was old THEN I turned 25 and age no longer mattered because I was being blessed to see another year with each birthday. Every year I take vacation and go home to Virginia for my birthday and this year was no different. I truly love going home and seeing all my family and friends especially my daughter Deondrea.

There is nothing better than being greeted by THIS face when I am in VA!

I started out my 43rd birthday as I would any other day ... A 30 MINUTE BRISK WALK!! There is nothing like starting your day, especially your birthday, with TEMPLE CARE under a relentless sun in a cloudless sky!

IMMEDIATELY followed by lunch and shopping with my beautiful daughter!

Don't take orders from a cookie ....

... UNLESS it's a VISALUS Nutra Cookie!! Good Afternoon great folk! A healthy lifestyle starts with mind over matter!! Every little step you take forward is progress, don't allow the small steps to make you regress!! Our minds can make us believe that we haven't done anything and we listen. The mind is powerful and truly is a terrible thing to waste. You've come too far to take orders from anything that doesn't benefit the new you that you're trying to create OR have created! EAT RIGHT, eat clean and GET FIT!! Make FITNESS, EXERCISE and WORKOUTS part of your every day life!

I look at the picture of this VI CHAMPION ... where she started and where she is now. She is an inspiration and motivation to me! I don't want to get to where she is but to remain healthy and fit is definitely my #1 goal!

And ya know one of the craziest things? I don't think I ever give myself credit for the work I've done with my health and wellness. I look back at some of my past FB and IG posts and see how I always say "there's still work to be done" when someone compliments me before I even think to say thank you. MY APOLOGIES Y'ALL! *pats self on back* I did the damn thang and I continue to do it. GO ME! I'll move forward with my healthy lifestyle change and just make waves in the world of fitness ... on my own terms and in my own time. NO I'm not done but I am pleased with the work I've done! THE NEW ME, THE NEW MIND SET! #VILIFE!

CORE WORK: Abs are returning! YAY!!

Even though I am not feeling well since my return from VA (always get sick, mom LOVES to run the a/c below zero and I don't like the a/c) and battling this cold that has consumed my chest now I still push through a work out. I was going to do my usual 15 minute work out today but since I just purchased Leslie Sansone's BELLY BLASTING WALK I had to try it out! This DVD comes with 2 different work outs: standing CORE work and floor CORE work. Lets be clear, the CORE is not just your abs but it's abs, obliques and back. Anyway, I decided to do both today and I WAS WORKED! OH MY GOODNESS!

Leslie's work outs are relatively easy but they get the job done, this one had a little more to it in my book and Me oh My ... Leslie killed me!! Today TEAM SWEAT not only made the FAT CRY but once again it was weeping and wailing! YES ... ALL THAT!! I am SO glad to see my ABS showing up again!! That is one area I have to stay on, that and my inner thighs!! I didn't work out like I should have while on vacation so that inconsistency cause my abs to fall a little flat ... NEVER AGAIN! *in Biggie voice* ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT YOU GOTTA WORK HARD FOR IT! FITNESS, WORKING OUT and EXERCISE isn't always easy, believe me I know but if you truly want to GET FIT you have to do it! You must also EAT RIGHT and EAT CLEAN!

I followed this work out with a GREEN MACHINE Vi shake: 8 oz very vanilla Silk Milk, 2 scoops Vi-Shape mix, 1 scoop milled, golden flaxseed, 1/2 frozen banana, cup of baby Spinach leaves and few cubes of ice ... VOILA!! So tasty and fortifying after a great sweaty work out!! Are you about that life, that VILIFE? NO? Want to know more? Get to this link ~~~~>

Walking and 15 minute work outs do wonders!

I've been slipping on my blogging so I'm going to cover a 1 - 1 - 2 workout schedule. June 27th, my day began at 6 a.m. with a bowl on Honey Nut Cheerios, followed by water and stretching. 30 minutes later I completed my Leslie Sansone 15 minute 1 mile power walk!! It creates such an AWESOME sweat and is a great way to start the day followed by my cranpomegranate ViShake.

JUNE 28th REST DAY ... I am not feeling well since returning from vacation so although I was attempting to get back on my NO DAYS OFF regiment I needed the rest.

June 29th - I got up and MOVED MY BODY!! 15 minute 1 mile power walk along w/ 100 crunches and a 60 second plank. That's a sure way to start your day off just right!! You don't have to do a whole lot, remember A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY!

June 30th - this morning I was up at 5 a.m. and on the bridges by 5:45 a.m.

I took a brisk, swift CHRIS BROWN - TURN UP THE MUSIC walk over the Acosta AND Main St bridges this morning. I didn't have enough time to do both of the Acosta as I've been doing. I am having to start over getting my core back to where it was before vacation. If you want something you have to go and get it ... BY ALL MEAN NECESSARY!! I get mine through daily physical activity and the VILIFE!

I am hell bent on keeping this 40+ year old body as FIT AND FABULOUS as possible!

VILFE WILL FOREVER BE MY LIFE THAT WAY I KNOW THIS 40+ YEAR OLD BODY IS FORTIFIED PROPERLY!

My INCONSISTENCY caused this!

After all my talk of consistency this clearly shows what my inconsistency has done ...

... it has caused me to start over again with my core work.

Before I left for VA my abs were becoming well defined but in a matter of 6 days of inactivity its fading away. I'm mad with myself but I know what caused it and what it will take to get it back. I'm back on my FITNESS grind with work out routines every day as I did before I went on vacation. There will be 15 minute morning working out routine every day and another in the evening picking up once again on my crunch challenge.

WATCH ME WORK THIS POWERED BY VI LIFE!

And these are just a FEW choices I can have!

Deep Creek High School 25th Class Reunion - C/O 88

Last week during my VA vacation, there was one of the best events I've attended in many years ... Deep Creek High School's Class of 1988 25th Class Reunion! Yep, you read it right, 25 YEARS and I have to say WOW, time has truly gotten away from me. It wasn't until I received the invite over a year ago that I realized it had been that long! Time has truly been great to my class mates and I as most of us don't look a day over 30. If I've learned nothing else in life I've learned if you take care of yourself your body will take care of you. As time was drawing near for this fabulous event I realized I had no idea what I was going to wear nor did I bring anything from home (Florida) to make that decision easier. *sigh* WELP ... guess I have to go shopping!! Mini me and I

set out to find a dress after our birthday lunch date. We ended up at Ross and there I found several wonderful selections! Here are the top 3 choices:

This is Calvin.

Designer whose name I couldn't pronounce NOR do I remember.

This is also Calvin and it fit my curves PERFECTLY but at the end of our try on session the 1st Calvin dress was purchased. For 1, it was purple (Hornet colors) and it was the cheapest! (DO NOT JUDGE ME!!)

Saturday morning, June 22nd, the day of the reunion, began wonderfully! Fellow classmate and friend, Wendy and I headed out as we always do when I visit. It started with time spent at Great Bridge Middle School for her son, Jordan, football camp.

Jordan is pictured with fellow class mate Gina's son Bryan. Here we go with yet another mini Hornet reunion! Gina (Bullock) Stukes spotted us as she sat in the stands.

Although we are all friends on Facebook there is absolutely NOTHING like a face to face meeting. It was so good to see her, especially since she was not going to be in attendance this evening.

After leaving there I needed heels and accessories for my dress so we stopped at Cato where I found the PERFECT pump ...

... you see how they PUMPED up the volume?? SOLD! Didn't find accessories there but DOTS did the trick NOW to the house to get dressed. Oh how pumped up we were to get to this evenings events and little did I know how the devil was going to try and ruin my evening. After prepping for the evening I put on my new, Hornet purple dress to find out it had a hole in it! HOW'D I MISS THAT WHEN I TRIED IT ON!! *palms forehead* This is 30 minutes before we were to meet at Roger Browns.

That face though ... enough said BUT Wendy would NOT let me get down and depressed about it. She went into immediate action! She made sure her children's event was taken care of AND off we go headed back to Ross. I wish she'd have taken a picture of my outfit I had on when I went into Ross ... HILARIOUS! I was getting looks left and right as I hit the counter in my multi-colored Dr Suess socks with no shoes, pumps in hand! It took all of 20 minutes to find another dress, exchange, get in a fitting room to get dressed and head out the door! Off to Roger Browns we go with the final dress choice ...

It's supposed to be purple but looks blue up against Wendy's dress NONETHELESS it was party time!

Inside Roger Browns, the 1st Hornets I spotted were Scott Erwin and Troy Brockett! It's one thing to be friends on Facebook, as I stated earlier, but it's so much better to meet and greet in person! After them there were so many familiar faces popping up; Laverne Mason, Sonia Knuckles, David Hadaway, Aundrey Barnes, Dawn Warren, Tamra Snead, Sylvia Dixon, Ellen Reid, Tyra Young, Lori Bostick, Rusty Hooker, Jeffy Colley,Carmela Duke, Michelle Wilson, Lisa Walker, and Kim Hardy just to name a few! There was a true feeling of nostalgia in the air and at this point it was time to drink, eat and get ready for the real festivities!

The feeling upon arrival inside of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame was surreal! Faces and names that I hadn't seen or heard since June 10, 1988 were filling the room. As I looked around, some faces I remembered and some I didn't but all it took was a little bit of conversation and name tag views to change that quickly. The atmosphere was so familiar, almost like we'd just done this before. It was as if we'd just gotten back from summer vacation and it was the 1st day of our Senior year ... EXCITEMENT EVERYWHERE!! Sweetwater Cuisine did an awesome job on the hor'dourves and sweets. There was a decadent chocolate fountain

and a beautiful reunion cake

of which I had none! I actually had so much fun mingling, dancing and of course taking pictures that all I had was 2 cups of ice water! I was too busy having a ball to stop and snack. From line dancing (learned the Biker Shuffle and the line dance to Mary J's FINE) to watching ROCK show up and show out

to the elevated joy I felt when I saw my boy 'Toiny Boo' (Antoine Whitted).

Look how much was going on! There just wasn't enough time for me to sit and eat anything.

I can't remember not one person who didn't enjoy themselves, even quiet Katrina Glascoe. I tried my best to get her to come leave the entrance area and join us in the JUNGLE better known as the dance floor where Wendy (DELTA) and Krista (AKA) were having a SOROR dance off!

Do NOT ask me who won because both represented well BUT I am sure if I were to ask either of the 2 we'd know their answer. Katrina, nonetheless, did not move which makes her the smart woman that we've always known her to be! In the middle of our reunion, Ellen "ZeeZee" Reid Savoy presented us with a video/slide show which brought tears and laughter to us all. We've lost so many classmates, some I didn't know personally and some I knew but didn't know they'd passed. I've tried to add Ellen's video but it won't give me the embedding code, look for 'DCHS2' on YouTube if you've not seen it already. Theresa "Binky" Sawyer Ford also made a slide show that was awesome. We have some very talented people in our ranks.

I have to say, after watching Ellen's video presentation it hit me just how blessed we truly are. We are still here, above ground and able to celebrate 25 years of public school freedom, together with some of the greatest people on earth! It was nothing far from EPIC the way we all came together and were able to get along, no one looking down on anyone else or judging because of their past, present or foreseeable future. The only thing going on at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame that night was some good ole HORNET comradery and I'm proud to say I was a part of it.

Katherine Porterfield Gray and Scott Erwin you guys are FANTASTIC!

You, along with Sandra Witherspoon, David Hadaway and Rusty Hooker put together an awesome evening that will be talked and blogged about for months to come ... not to mention the pictures that keep surfacing! The next 5 years will pass by so quickly as we prepare for our 30th class reunion and I can't wait! This event reignited my true being ... I BLEED PURPLE AND WHITE!! ONCE A HORNET ALWAYS A HORNET!